Crisis Management 101

Society needs you and your opinions! A difficult person is one thought of as opinionated and fixed in their own ways, at least, this person has thoughtful opinions – A Professional. Discourteous and Egocentric but with no opinion will object to any decision made by someone they do not like – A Politician. A personality who has no opinion and does not even buy into others’ opinions is just lacking in morals. Such persons do not understand right and wrong and therefore, respects the Professional while, fuels the needs of the Politician. The essential need is for humanity, all of us, to care about each other to avoid and mitigate disasters. So, when does a Politician hand over to a Professional? Only to avoid a crisis.

Caribbean Economies in Pandemic mode

This is in reaction to an academic note “COVID-19Policy Response for the Caribbean” by Justin Ram. This is a summary targeting a wider audience with opinions on the presented facts.

The world is in for it! As politicians and other persons in leadership roles, many without the necessary training, must make decisions to save lives or protect lifestyles. A likely two years away from a potential treatment, social distancing is the only way to stop this virus pandemic spread, saving lives but damaging, Taxation Revenue, Sales Income, Salaries and Jobs, the very economy. Institutions, Local, Regional and International, with political and financial power are being asked to discuss and consider actions. As any action will be at a cost. Money which would be firstly needed for increased medical demands, the social distancing and related economic inactivity, and then, to restart and rebuild.

Farming and Food Processing

As wise people abandon densely populated cities. Headed for greener fields or bluer seas, and they will now be able to telecommute globally. The once coveted skyscraper penthouse suites will be converted to farms. Not the old impression of farms but highly scientific and efficient laboratories. These buildings would have to be renovated and refitted to house its own water, electricity and air supplies. Expanding the food supply chain, via vertical farming, of animal and plant life with onsite processing of certified healthy foods. fit primarily for human consumption. The demand for healthy fresh foods will naturally outstrip supply as populations increase globally. And as a result, food stocks will grow in financial value over the old real estate funds.

Top Down Prescriptions

The economic solution remains the same, in and after every global crisis. Politicians debate and approve bailouts through the banks. For it is the banks, which have the best records of financial data and activities on every individual, SMEs and large corporations, which would need help to recover. The Treasury gives money to the banks to lend to those most affected, at very low or no interest rates, to meet living and operating expenses and boost future revenues, as if the crisis never happened. The question is why does not the Treasury, Tax Collection Division have the same or better data, with which to make such money distribution?

Crisis Opportunities

The future is never clear or predictable. Human Beings cause and react to change in various ways. While many preach of gloom and doom, others focus on solutions to return society to where it was, but yet some, a very few, think of how this crisis can make life better. Science has developed many ways to annihilate mankind, as artistic movies have shown, but has always stopped short, developing protocols and cures. For every known natural or manmade disaster, procedures are in place to mitigate dangers. However, the questions surround the unknown. Think Tanks, armed with the best minds, are charged with solving and preparing for such unknown circumstances by deploying natural Human Roles.

Services ‘An Economic Driver’

Legally Protecting an idea. The service sector or industry is borne out of a consensus of laws, rules and regulations, giving rights to ownership of skills and talents. The right to oversee professions, to practice law, license as a medical practitioner, operate specified facilities, certify accounts and other professional documents, are established in law. Further executing works or inspections, which requires advance training or higher education, to develop and for the monitoring of talents will also need the protection of laws. But one only has rights they can defend. Proving in a jurisdictional court that this idea is yours, can be a daunting task. Hence the need to patent it.

People born into Poverty

Economic Opportunities, Jobs, decent work for unskilled workers, which pays a national minimum wage, that is a living wage, able to support a basic standard of living. Many people, in society, that are offspring of poor, vulnerable or disadvantaged parents will find themselves repeating the same behaviors, trapping their own children in a circle of poverty. This cycle can be broken by a mix of simple policies aimed to eradicate poverty. The mainstay of which is described as “Earn to Learn”. People born into Poverty, who find themselves as an unskilled and untalented adult, must be afforded such options.

Bottom up Solutions

Numerous decisions are made to protect society from disasters. Whether natural or man-made, threatening lives or economic growth, Governments must make decisions to preserve lifestyles. Wide ranging economic decisions, bringing Government and Large operators together, will affect investors, as to supporting entrepreneurs, in which sector or industry, and licensing and regulating operators. Many other disasters, all with wide economic impacts, will see negative effects on employment and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owners. But the poor and other vulnerable persons in the society do not get to have a say. Even as such disasters will send more into poverty.

Leadership Crisis

In a democracy, the electorate votes to elect moral and ethical persons to serve in leadership roles. Not to enrich themselves or to win the next election, but to collectively make life better for their society. Such leadership must avoid misfortunes, wars or insurgencies but be constantly prepared for natural disasters and to put down external or internal threats to the nation. This leadership must prevent but prepare for public health emergencies. The leadership must instill a lifelong Love of Learning in and across the population. All to inspire confidence throughout the society, in its laws, its policies, its infrastructure and its revenue generating, economic drivers.

Urgent Actions

Human Beings are dangerous to their own existence. The solutions cannot be anyone individual’s effort. It will take a multi-prong approach driven and funded by Economic Drivers SYNERGIES, converting raw materials into sellable products. Infrastructure SYNERGIES combining structures, water, fuels, electricity, communications, transportation, with its maintenance and operations. Education SYNERGIES exist to build tolerant and peaceful communities, by developing skills and talents, from historical knowledge. Healthcare SYNERGIES involves treatment and recuperation, safety regulations, nutrition and exercise to enhance wellness. Security SYNERGIES must incorporate justice, law and order, punishment and rehabilitation, protection of people and property.